Palisade Range, Mt Morisson, Mamooth Lakes - May '06

Glacier Lodge, just above Big Pine, CA May 12. - early in the morning

Going into South Fork Big Pine Creek

Palisade Crest with Middle Palisade (14,040ft = 4.279m) to the left and Norman Clyde Peak (13,920ft = 4.243m) in the middle

Inside South Fork Big Pine Creek

Heavy snow is melting - it was May 12.

Palisade Crest

Middle Palisade North-east face (14,040ft = 4.279m)

Long no-trail approach

It was easy to fall through the melted snow

I turned around and went to Convict Lake under Mount Morisson

Convict Lake and Mount Morisson (12,268ft = 3.739m) May 13. early in the morning

My goal was ridge on the horizon

Nice valley for the skiing

Beautiful, hot, sunny day

It is huge area

Closer to the ridge and Mount Morisson (12,268ft = 3.739m)

Nice snow balcony on the ridge

Next day I spent at Mamooth Mountain Ski Resort. It is an enormous complex with 27 ski lifts.

Mamooth Mountain Ski Resort - 3,500 acres of skiable terrain.

Mamooth Mountain Ski Resort - 3,100 feet of vertical

What makes Mammoth so special is its world-famous bowls, gentle groomed trails, steep chutes, secluded tree runs and plenty of California sunshine.

One of the nation's longest ski seasons (November to June) and most dependable snow depths (10 to 15 feet of natural snowpack).

It was impressive

Toms Mountain on my way back